Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!
Chapter 122: ’Abrupt End’

Chapter 122: ’Abrupt End’

Lucius wasted no time. His voice, sharp and commanding, cut through the tense silence. "You two, take His Majesty to the royal physician immediately!"

Two knights in dark uniforms stepped forward without hesitation, carefully lifting Heinz’s unconscious form from Florian’s arms. The sight of his pale, blood-streaked face sent a fresh wave of unease through the room, but the knights carried him swiftly through the doors and out of sight.

Florian remained on the floor for a moment, his breath unsteady as he stared at the bloodstained table. His hands were shaking, his heart pounding. The reality of what had just happened was sinking in fast. Heinz—invincible, unshaken Heinz—wasn’t supposed to fall. And yet, he had.

Lucius turned to him, his expression unreadable. "Stay with Alexandria," he ordered, his voice lower but firm. "Or bring her to your room. Just keep her away from everyone else until we have answers."

Florian swallowed hard and nodded, pushing himself to his feet. When he turned, he found Alexandria still frozen in place. Her hands were clenched so tightly against her chest that her knuckles had gone white.

Silent tears streamed down her face, her breaths coming in short, uneven gasps. She looked like she had been carved from porcelain, so fragile that even a whisper of wind could shatter her.

"Lady Alexandria," Florian said softly, stepping closer. She flinched but didn’t move away.

"I... I didn’t mean to... I thought..." Her voice was barely a whisper, choked with fear and guilt. More tears spilled down her cheeks, her entire body trembling as if the weight of what had just happened was pressing down on her, suffocating her.

Her breaths were sharp and frantic, her shoulders rising and falling as she struggled against the panic clawing at her throat.

Florian exhaled slowly and reached out, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. He could feel the tremors running through her. "This isn’t your fault. You followed the instructions—you did what you thought was right. No one could’ve known this would happen."

Alexandria shook her head violently, biting her lip to hold back another sob. "But... but what if he—" Her breath hitched, and she squeezed her eyes shut as fresh panic set in. "What if I killed him? What if—what if this was a mistake? I should’ve waited longer—I should’ve—"

"He won’t die," Florian interrupted firmly, squeezing her shoulder. "He won’t. The king is stubborn and strong. He’s not going anywhere that easily."

But despite his words, he could feel the fear in the pit of his own stomach. He had never seen Heinz like that before. The king always carried himself with an air of invincibility, and yet, in the span of moments, he had crumpled like any other man. It made him sick to think about.

Alexandria wiped at her tears with the sleeve of her dress, but they kept falling. Her breaths came in quick, erratic bursts, like she was trying to hold herself together but failing miserably. She pressed her palms against her face, trying to stifle the sobs that shook her frame. "What... what should I do?" she asked, her voice breaking.

Florian hesitated, then took a deep breath. "For now, you need to calm down. Just breathe. And don’t tell anyone about this. Not your maids, not the other princesses. No one."

She looked up at him, wide-eyed and uncertain. "Why?"

"Because until we hear from His Majesty or Lucius, we don’t know what we’re dealing with. If word spreads too soon, it could cause panic—or worse." His tone was gentle but resolute, a firm edge underscoring his words. "Trust me on this. Please."

’And the other princesses can’t hear about this. That was one of Heinz’s orders.’

Alexandria’s lips trembled as she hesitated, her conflicted emotions playing out vividly on her face. Her fingers tightened around the edge of her gown, the knuckles pale from the pressure. After a long pause, she gave a slow, reluctant nod. "Okay... I won’t say anything."

Florian exhaled softly, relief washing over him like a wave. "Good. I’ll take you to your room, alright? You need to rest."

But the tension in Alexandria’s shoulders didn’t ease. Instead, she shook her head, looking down at her lap as her hands twisted and untwisted the fabric of her dress. Her voice, when it came, was shaky but filled with quiet urgency. "No. I—Prince Florian, please. Go check on him."

Florian blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift. "Are you sure?"

She lifted her head, and what he saw in her eyes stopped him in his tracks. They were raw, brimming with emotions she was trying so desperately to suppress—fear, worry, and something deeper, something fragile yet resolute. Her hands trembled, but her gaze didn’t waver. "I insist. I need to stay here and pray for him. But you... please, find out what’s happening. I can’t—I can’t just sit here, not knowing."

Florian’s chest tightened. He didn’t want to leave her like this. She looked so small, so unguarded in this moment, her strength stretched thin. Her pale complexion seemed even paler under the dim light of the room, and her fingers twisted the fabric of her dress with almost frantic energy, as if the action itself was the only thing holding her together.

’She’s barely holding on,’ he thought, his heart sinking.

He sighed, the weight of her words settling heavily on his shoulders. "Alright. I’ll go. But promise me you’ll take care of yourself in the meantime."

She nodded shakily, her voice soft but earnest. "I will."

For a moment, Florian lingered, his gaze locked on her trembling form. He wanted to say something, anything, to ease her fears. But no words came, and he knew that nothing he said would be enough.

Finally, he turned and walked toward the door, his boots echoing faintly against the floor. As he stepped into the dimly lit corridor, he glanced back one last time. Alexandria had bowed her head, her hands clasped tightly together in what seemed to be a desperate prayer.

He clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he strode down the hallway. ’I’ll find out what’s happening. I’ll get her the answers she needs. I have to.’

The air felt colder as he moved further from her, the gravity of the situation pressing heavily on his chest. Just like that, Alexandria’s day with the king came to an abrupt end.